436
be so kind as tow rite me about it, whether it is one Prof. Wynn is adapted to fill, what steps to take should he wish to apply &c.
It is of course unneccessary for me to say anything about the Prof. as you know him if anything better than I do. As to other matters here, we are in a quite propserous condition though in certain respects I could wish for a more promising outlook.
The Board still favor me with $1200 per year and were it not that I get $600 as agent for [?] of Entomology. I should feel like turning my attention to some other field. You have noticed doubtless that Fernald was elected to the position in Mass. that I once had my eye upon – and toward which you wrote a very kind letter for me – a favor which I ought before this to have thanked you for more definitely than was done in my letter requesting it. — Hoping I may sometime be able to return some of your many favors I am
Very Truly Yours Herbert Osborn
437
Iowa Agricultural College.
S. A. Knapp, President. C. E. Bessey, Vice President. E. W. Stanton, Secretary.
General Science Faculty, C. E. Bessey, Dean. School of Agriculture, S. A. Knapp, Dean. School of Engineering, A. Thomson Dean School of Veterinary Science, M. Stalker, Dean.
Department of Entomology H. Osborn.
Ames, Iowa, March 19, 1886
Dear Prof. Bessey,
A man representing himself to be an agent for the Smithsonian Institution has visited various colleges in this state offering to place specimens in the museums. When here he spoke of visiting Lincoln. He takes various names, among them H. S. Williams, and professes to be acquainted with many prominent scientific men. As he pretends to be connected with Cornell University faculty Pres. Adams has warned the public against him. As he presented a letter from Gov. Larabee we felt obliged to entertain him, not being able to prove that he was a fraud.
Thinking it possible that he might make use of his acquaintance here to give you some trouble we thought it best to forewarn you.
Please remember me with love to your family. Mr Osborn is very busy. He sends best regards to all.
Very truly yours, Dora S. Osborn.
438
Ames Iowa Dec. 25th 1885
My Dear Prof. Bessey
I have been very tardy in answering your kind letter. Partly because I thought I could get hold of some published accounts of recent doings so there would be less to do by hand. The inauguration exercises are now published in pamphlet form and I will send a copy. This will give you some idea of the outlook and perhaps some insight into the character of the present executive. Aside from Prof. Wynn there has been no important change relating to the faculty. Prof. Knapps resignation was accepted and Herman is retained for one year to run the department under the direction of the President. A committee was appointed to look up a suitable man for Prof. of Agriculture. The Mechanical Department has been receiving the lion's share of the appropriations of late and physics came in for a pretty big lump this fall. I have understood that there is a vacancy at Iowa City and that Prof Wynn has some chance of getting the place. How much I do not know as I have ont seen him or any one to learn from lately. If he should go there it would look very much as if we were trying our best to build up the State University. A commendable enterprise of course but somewhat ruinous here. Last year our Prof. of Chem., a very talented man was [K____ O____] allowed to leave, and within a very few weeks he was installed in the Univ. The Hornaday Collection of birds and mammals offered to us if we would stuff them and estimate to be worth when put up at least eight or ten thousand dollars was after a years very hard work to get the Board to see its value refused
439
and directly it was offered and accepted at the University. Now if Prof. Wynn should go there too it seems as if somebody ought to wak up to a sense of the absurdity of pulling down our own college to help the Univ. But perhaps I am a little too cranky and inclined to disagree with the natural course of events. We are having a very quiet winter here, almost every body away now an dit has been pretty steadily cold all the month. We are trying to start another state science society and Prof. Call has been corresponding about a Miss. Valley Association which you have probably heard of by this time. I should think it might be quite a success. I had a letter from Prof. Beal a short time ago he is on his farm and intends to stay there for the coming year at least. Have you got any collectors among your students? I would like to get Hemiptera from that region and as I now have a pretty full series of the Heteroptera determined by comparison with Uhlers types or determinations, I could make some return by identifying specimens for you in case you could lend me a duplicate series while busy particularly with the parasitic forms at present I am gradually collecting in Hemiptera and intend to try and keep posted in that order.
Mrs. Osborn joins me in kind regards to yourself and your family.
Sincerely Yours. Herbert Osborn
